Vehicle driving mechanism.



A. S. KROTZ.

VEHICLE DRIVING MECHANISM.

1 1 APPLIO ATION ITILED DEC. 16, 1908.

ITED STATES PAT OFFICE.

ALVARO S. KROTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS, ROEIBUCK & COMPANY,

' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

VEHICLE DRIVING MECHANISM.

Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Driving Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates. to. means for connecting the motive power of anautomobile with' the drive wheels and particularly'to the mechanism permitting said wheels to rotate at different speeds.

c.0118 of. the objects of the invention is to provide an improved differential driving mechanism for positively driving the wheels of the vehicle, either singly or-together.

Another object is to provide means, in a differential driving mechanism com rising clutches, for preventing the clutch or the outside drive wheel from lockin when the vehicle is moving in a curved pat The invention also relates to the other improvements in driving mechanism hereinafter set forth. I

In the accompanying drawingsFigure -l isa diagrammatic representation of a vehicle-driving mechanism embodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating one end of a drive shaft and the mechanism carried thereby. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views-on lines 33 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmental central sectional view taken upon a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a view on a smaller scalectaken from the right-hand end of Fig.

2. Fig. 7 is a fragmental perspective view of the tubular drive shaft. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a rod extending thr'ough said shaft. Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a cam member fixed to and encircling said shaft. face vieui of one of the clutch members.

Referring to the drawings, which arein tended to be understood as illustrative merely and not as limiting the invention to' the construction or arrangement shown, 1 indicates a shaft to which the motive power of the vehicle is applied. The shaft 1 is supported in the vehicle in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of brackets 2 fixed to the longitudinal sills 3 of the chassis, said brackets supporting bearings 4, one for each end of the shaft.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 16, 1908.

and ,the sprocket 5.

' nut.

Fig. 10 is a fragmental' Patented Nov. 3, 1914. Serial No. 467,865.

5 is a driving sprocket. In the embodiment herein shown, power is communicated from the drive shaft 1 to the sprocket 5 through the medium of a clutch, which clutch may be of any suitable construction.

I'have herein shown a friction clutch comprising a driving disk 6 and adriven disk 7 the disk 6 having an annular flange 8. One of the disks 6 and 7 may have a facing?) of suitable friction material, such as leather. To prevent the pressure of the atmosphere from causing the disks 6 and 7 to cling together, the disk 7 may have therein a number,of openings 10. The disk 6 is provided with a hub 11 having a rotative bearing at 12 upon the drive shaft 1, andat 13 upon the inner end of a sleeve 14 fixed to the shaft 1. The sleeve l4'may be fixed to the shaft by any suitablemeans as a key .14*. The hub 15 of the disk 7 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 1. To the hub 15 is rigidly fixed the driving sprocket 5. The disk 7 ,and the sprocket 5 are confined upon the :Shilft l by means of a nut 16 screwed upon the outer end of said shaft, an anti-friction washer 17 being interposed between said nut Any suitable means may be provided for locking the nut 16 upon the shaft 1, as, for example, a cotter pin 18 extendingthrough openings 19 in said shaft and through slots 20 in the outer end of the The clutch disk 6 is herein represented as driven by the drive shaft 1 by means of one or more studs 21- fixed to said disk and engaged by the sleeve 14, which sleeve, as will be remembered, is rigidly connected with the shaft 1. In the construction herein shown,

two diametrically opposite studs 21 are provided, and the outer end of the sleeve 14 has recesses 22 therein, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9, to receive said studs. The recesses 22 have inclined cam walls 23. Itwill be seen that the recessed sleeve 14 constitutes a doubleacting cam adapted to slide the disk 6 against the, disk 7 whichever way the sleeve 14 is rotated with relation tothe disk 6'. A spring 24 tends to hold the disk Gin contact with the disk .7. As herein shown, the spring 24 is located in anflannular chamber 25 provided between the sleeve 14 and the hub 11, said spring bearing at one end against said sleeve and at its other end against said hub. 4

It will be seen that the devices (to wit,

vents the disk raised combination, a drive the cam sleeve 14 and the studs 21) connecting the drive shaft 1 and the clutch disk 6 permit of a slight relative rotation between said shaft and said disk. In order to compel the disks 6 at opposite ends'of the shaft 1 to rotate together, or, in other words, to synchronize the action of the clutches, I have provided sultable means, as for example, a'

rod 26 extending from one end of the shaft to the-other through an axial opening 27 in said shaft, said rod having fixed thereto two p ns 28 engaging in longitudinal slots 29 formed in the hubs of the clutch disks 6. The shaft 1 is recessed as at 30 to accommodate the pins 28.

The'clutch disks 6 are normally in contact with the clutch disks 7. When the drive shaft 1 is set in rotation, the cam surfaces 23'011 the-sleeves 14 force the disks 6 tightly against the disks 7, said sleeves in their rotation carrying the clutch disks with them and thus rotating the drive wheels of the vehicle. Then the vehicle is being driven in a substantially straight course, the rotation ofthe shaft 1 causes the drive wheels to be rotated together at the same speed.

It will be remembered that the clutch disks 6 are coupledtogether through'the medium of the rod 26 and the pins 28, so as always to rotate at the same speed When the ve hicle turns a corner,-the outside drive wheel of the vehicle rotates more rapidly. than the inner drivewheel, consequently the clutch disk 7:.for said outside wheel is rotated faster-than ts companion clutch disk 6, said. disk '7 v I ling device 26 28 engages the clutch disks 6 ooselyenough to permit of the disk 6 for the. outside vehicle wheel yielding sufficiently to allow the disk 7 to' run ahead, as just-described, but said coupling deviceprebeing-carried one-cam surface 23 into contact with the other cam surface and thereby being forced into lockingengagement with its disk 7.

It will be understood that, should one of the drive wheels of. the vehicle slip or be .bytheshafhand. the other clutch member:

corresponding driven being connected to the v other, than the drlve element "and-- means shaft for synchro'r'iii;l ng the actionbf said slipping past the disk 6; The 0011-.

6'for the outside wheel from ahead by its disk 7 away fromfrom contact with the roadway,'the

clutches to prevent the clutch member for the driven element from driving its companion clutch member.

2. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in combination, a drive shaft; two elements to be driven; a clutch between each of said elements and said shaft, said clutches being mounted upon said shaft, and each of said clutches comprising two members which are continually in contact with. one another, one of said clutch members being arranged to be driven by the shaft, and the other clutch member being connected to the corresponding driven'element; and means extending through said shaft from one clutch to the other for synchronizing the action of said clutches to prevent the clutchmember for the driven element from drii ing its companion clutch member."

3. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in

combination, a drive shaft; two elements to be driven; a friction clutch betweeneach of said elements and said shaft, eachofsaid clutches comprising a driving member and a driven member which are continually in contact one with the other, and means other than the drive shaft for connecting the driving member of one clutch to the driving member of the other so that said driving members shall always rotate together.

4.111 a vehicle-driving mechanism, in

combination, adrive shaft; two elements to be driven; a clutch between each of said elements and said shaft, each of said-clutches comprising a driving member and a driven member mounted upon said shaft, sadd members being continually in contact. one with the other ;a rod extending axially through said shaft; and meansfor connecting each of said driving members with said rod.

5. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in combination, a drive shaft; two driven clutch members rotatably mounted on said shaft twodriving clutch members slidably mount-ed on said shaft and arranged for aslight amount of rotation with reference to said shaft; two double-acting cams fixed to said shaft, one-v being provided for each driving clutch member to slide such driving clutch member into clutch relation to the corresponding driven clutch member; and means connecting said driving clutch members for synchronous rotation.

; -6. In a --vehicle-dr1ving mechanism, in combination, a-shaft; a clutch member ro-' tatably mounted on said shaft; a clutch member arranged to be rota-ted by said shaft; a-spring for holding said clutch members together, said spring being-freeto act at all times; and means for preventing the rotatably' mounted .clutch member from rotatingthe QtllGP'Cltl-tCl'l member when said ,rotatably mounted clutch member overruns,-

during a turning moveme'nt :of the vehicle,

. said rotatably mounted clutch me'mber slip ping past said other clutch member during such overrunning.

7. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in combination, a driving clutch member; a driven clutch'member; means for holding said clutch members together, said members being free to act at all times; and means for preventing the driven clutch member from rotating the driving clutch member when said driven member overruns during a turning movement of the vehicle, said driven member slipping past said driving member during such overrunning.

8. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in combination, a shaft, a driven clutch member; a driving clutch member mounted on said shaft; means on said shaft for moving the driving clutch member into locking engagement with the driven clutch member and for connecting said driving clutch memslipping past said driving member during 3o,

such overrunning.

9. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in

combination, a shaft; a driven clutch memher; a driving clutch member having a hub rotatably mounted onsaid shaft; a stud fixed to said hub; a sleeve fixed on said shaft, said sleeve having a recess thereiirto receive the stud, said recess having oppositely inclined cam Walls; a spring tending to hold said driving clutch member in contact with the driven clutch member; and

means for preventing the driven clutch member from rotating the driving clutch her; a driving clutch member slidable and rotatable on said shaft; means on said shaft for connectin said drivln clutch member with said sha t and for holding said driving clutch member in operative relation with the driven clutch member; a spring tending to hold said driving clutch member in operative relation With the driven clutch member; and means for preventing the driven clutch member from rotating the driving clutch member when the vehicle is turning, said means comprising a rod lying Within said shaft, said rod carrying a pin engaging in a slot in said driving clutch member.

11. In a vehicle-driving mechanism, in combination, a shaft; a driven friction clutch disk; a driving friction clutch disk slidable to a slight extent on said shaft; means on said shaft having opposite cam surfaces adapted to engage said driving clutch disk for causing it to rotate with said shaft and for sliding it into forcible contact with said driven clutch disk, said driving clutch disk being free at times to rotate to a slight extent on said shaft; and means for preventing said driven clutch disk from rotati'ng said driving clutch disk into contact with one of said cam surfaces, When said driven disk overruns during a turning movement of the vehicle.

ALVARO S. KRQTZ. 

